Curses, Voodoo Dolls, and the Power of Belief

Magic. Voodoo dolls, curses, rituals — sounds like a movie plot, but for some, it’s reality. Some people firmly believe that esotericism works. So much so that they’re ready to spend a fortune on amulets, protective rituals, and services of shamans. But here’s the thing: magic only works if you truly believe in it.

Magic. Voodoo dolls, curses, rituals — sounds like a movie plot, but for some, it’s reality. Some people firmly believe that esotericism works. So much so that they’re ready to spend a fortune on amulets, protective rituals, and services of shamans. But here’s the thing: magic only works if you truly believe in it.

Imagine this: you’re walking, and suddenly a gypsy woman curses you. Logic says: nonsense, move on. But a believer in curses will immediately anticipate disaster, stress out, and start sabotaging themselves. Psychosomatics will kick in, creating problems out of nowhere. Instead of facing their fears, they’ll head to the local witch, spending a small fortune on an amulet (probably bought on AliExpress for a dollar).

And what if you just ignore it? For a true believer, that’s impossible. Ignoring a curse means admitting that their faith is wrong, and they’ve been foolishly wasting time and money. That’s scarier than any ritual.

Magic is Belief, and Belief is a Tool

This applies not just to curses. Believe in democracy, and it works... until you realize that power is mostly about control, officials care for themselves, and laws are no guarantee of fairness. When illusions crumble, anxiety sets in. Taking responsibility for yourself is much harder than expecting justice from the world.

If magic worked like in the movies, every hated politician would be suffering within a week of election. But no, they’re doing just fine. Meanwhile, it’s those who spend their money on fortune-tellers and protective charms who suffer, instead of solving problems in real life.

Rituals or Action?

The "magic" of a boss fades away once you become one. You stop seeing a wizard and start seeing just another tired guy in a suit. The same goes for myths about reputation, education, or social status. These only matter as long as you believe in them.

The takeaway is simple: if rituals help you feel more confident, do them. It’s better to perform a ritual, ease your anxiety, and focus on your goals than to worry and mess up. After all, a ritual isn’t the worst way to build confidence until you gain real experience.

And experience, as we know, is the ultimate antidote to any curse.